Argentina & Chile -- November 2008 -- Day 12-- JuJuy to Cachi --350km

[David_L]

At this point we retreated to the bus as it was distinctly cold with a biting wind and rain starting. There had been a lack of large columnars at this site, but 30 min. down the road this was the view.

[attachment 21529 Cachipampa4.jpg]

[Mike P]

The next stop was the Mirador de Payogasta which I didn't actually photograph. This is part of the view from it. We had dropped slightly since the last stop and were now at around 2,800m.
[attachment 21531 ja.jpg]
The light level was quite poor due the the low cloud.

[Mike P]

And another shot. It was very, very dry here and the plants we stopped to see looked like they would be really grateful if those clouds converted into rain.
[attachment 21532 jja.jpg]

[Mike P]

[attachment 21533 jjja.jpg]
Where this plant found the reserve of energy to flower is beyond me.....Opuntia sulphurea on its last legs.

[Mike P]

The Tunillas seemed to be coping a little better with the dry conditions. This is Tunilla erectoclada I think....
[attachment 21534 jjjja.jpg]

[Mike P]

And then the real jewel for this stop.
[attachment 21535 jjjjja.jpg]
This was our first sighting of a wild Gymnocalycium spegazzinni and I was bowled over by it. Even in the completely dessicated state where it was drawn down level with the surrounding soil it was a real winner. Looking at the image now I wish I had groomed it a little before taking the shot.

[David_L]

Actually I think they look rather nice ungroomed; naturally camouflaged if you will.

[attachment 21536 Gymno_spegazzinii.jpg]

[David_L]

See if you can spot it from this distance! A useful trick if you don't want to be eaten!

[attachment 21537 Gymno_spegazzinii2.jpg]

[David_L]

There was another extremely spiny plant here. I have this down as Acanthocalycium chionanthum, though when not in flower, I'm not sure I can separate it from the similar Acanthocalycium thionanthum. Can you spot the little Gymno. spegazzinii in this shot?

[attachment 21538 Acanthocalycium_chionanthum.jpg]

[Mike P]

Then it was back on the bus for the drive to cachi. The weather seemed to be brewing up a real storm as we sped along....
[attachment 21571 ka.jpg]